I Am Prince Hall Freemasonry!
by Bro. Antonio Caffey
I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I was born one evening on March 6, 1775 in Boston
Massachusetts. See to understand me; you must understand the time period I was born in. You see,
life for Blacks was rough during that time. We had few if any rights that whites had to respect,
slavery and racial discrimination were the law of the land during the time in which I was born. I was
originally composed of 15 strong individuals who initially asked, saught and knocked but were turned
away from the doors of universal Freemasonry. We persevered and eventually became the first class
of Prince Hall Masons. Prince Hall, Cryrus Jonbus, Buestop Slinger, Prince Rees, John Carter, Peter
Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Cuff Bufform, Thomas Sanderson, Prince Taylor, Cato Spears, Boston
Smith, Peter Best, Forten Howard, Richard Tilly. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.
I am ancient, I am honorable. I am over 230 years old. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I’ve
helped in the Underground Railroad movement, the abolishinist movement and the civil rights
movement. Where there was need for service, a need for help and a need for support, you found me
there. I am not a religious organization, but I have always had a special relationship with the Black
Church. God has definitely nurtured and guided me throughout my years. I am Prince Hall
Freemasonry. Many told me that I was illegitimate, that I did not originate from the same source as
my caucasion Brothers. That I had know right to wear the square and compass and that I could not
call myself a Freemason. I didn’t let this deter me, and not for one minute did I believe what they
said. My birth certificate proves my authenticity. It’s so valuable that it resides in a bank vaught
in Boston Massachusetts, and is only shown every ten years. It’s the only surviving one of its
kind. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.
You may find me in different forms, I may appear as a Royal Arch Mason, a Royal and Select
Master, a Knight Templar, a Sublime Prince or a Soverign Grand Inspector General, or a Noble of the
Mystic Shrine, but I am still Prince Hall Freemasonry. You may be familiar with my offspring, Sigma
Pi Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, or Phi Beta Sigma. I am Prince Hall
Freemasonry. From sharecroppers to Congressmen, I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I have attracted
men of all faiths and backgrounds. I am Bro. Richard Pryor, Bro. Alex Haley, Bro. W.E.B. Dubois,
Bro. Booker T. Washington, Bro. Nat King Cole, Bro. Duke Ellington, Bro. Matthew Henson, Bro.
Thurgood Marshall, I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.
I am Brother to a Sister who is fariest among thousands, altogether lovely. We walk side by side
through life assisting and supporting each other. The Order of the Eastern Star, she is my Wife,
Mother, Sister, Daughter my past, present and future. I will protect her from harm, and help her
when she is in need, I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I work behind the scenes to make sure things get
done. I have never requested or wanted the general public to know all of the accomplishments that I
have achieved. I am not recognized by my words, but by my deeds. I am humble. You must be
humble to do God’s work, and that’s what I have been doing, God’s work. I make sure
that when a Brother’s work is done on earth and he has made that transition to the after-life, that I
tend to the needs of his widow and orphans. I perform a ceremony that comforts the family in their
time of need. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.
I have made good men better, and have tried to improve myself in Masonry. I have never sought
anyone to join me, however thousands upon thousands of just and upright men have asked me, can
they follow me. And I have told them yes, if and only if you are of a mature age, believe in a supreme
being and are morally just, for those are the men who I seek. Now I ask you, are you a Prince Hall
Freemason?
by Bro. Antonio Caffey
I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I was born one evening on March 6, 1775 in Boston
Massachusetts. See to understand me; you must understand the time period I was born in. You see,
life for Blacks was rough during that time. We had few if any rights that whites had to respect,
slavery and racial discrimination were the law of the land during the time in which I was born. I was
originally composed of 15 strong individuals who initially asked, saught and knocked but were turned
away from the doors of universal Freemasonry. We persevered and eventually became the first class
of Prince Hall Masons. Prince Hall, Cryrus Jonbus, Buestop Slinger, Prince Rees, John Carter, Peter
Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Cuff Bufform, Thomas Sanderson, Prince Taylor, Cato Spears, Boston
Smith, Peter Best, Forten Howard, Richard Tilly. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.
I am ancient, I am honorable. I am over 230 years old. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I’ve
helped in the Underground Railroad movement, the abolishinist movement and the civil rights
movement. Where there was need for service, a need for help and a need for support, you found me
there. I am not a religious organization, but I have always had a special relationship with the Black
Church. God has definitely nurtured and guided me throughout my years. I am Prince Hall
Freemasonry. Many told me that I was illegitimate, that I did not originate from the same source as
my caucasion Brothers. That I had know right to wear the square and compass and that I could not
call myself a Freemason. I didn’t let this deter me, and not for one minute did I believe what they
said. My birth certificate proves my authenticity. It’s so valuable that it resides in a bank vaught
in Boston Massachusetts, and is only shown every ten years. It’s the only surviving one of its
kind. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.
You may find me in different forms, I may appear as a Royal Arch Mason, a Royal and Select
Master, a Knight Templar, a Sublime Prince or a Soverign Grand Inspector General, or a Noble of the
Mystic Shrine, but I am still Prince Hall Freemasonry. You may be familiar with my offspring, Sigma
Pi Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, or Phi Beta Sigma. I am Prince Hall
Freemasonry. From sharecroppers to Congressmen, I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I have attracted
men of all faiths and backgrounds. I am Bro. Richard Pryor, Bro. Alex Haley, Bro. W.E.B. Dubois,
Bro. Booker T. Washington, Bro. Nat King Cole, Bro. Duke Ellington, Bro. Matthew Henson, Bro.
Thurgood Marshall, I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.
I am Brother to a Sister who is fariest among thousands, altogether lovely. We walk side by side
through life assisting and supporting each other. The Order of the Eastern Star, she is my Wife,
Mother, Sister, Daughter my past, present and future. I will protect her from harm, and help her
when she is in need, I am Prince Hall Freemasonry. I work behind the scenes to make sure things get
done. I have never requested or wanted the general public to know all of the accomplishments that I
have achieved. I am not recognized by my words, but by my deeds. I am humble. You must be
humble to do God’s work, and that’s what I have been doing, God’s work. I make sure
that when a Brother’s work is done on earth and he has made that transition to the after-life, that I
tend to the needs of his widow and orphans. I perform a ceremony that comforts the family in their
time of need. I am Prince Hall Freemasonry.
I have made good men better, and have tried to improve myself in Masonry. I have never sought
anyone to join me, however thousands upon thousands of just and upright men have asked me, can
they follow me. And I have told them yes, if and only if you are of a mature age, believe in a supreme
being and are morally just, for those are the men who I seek. Now I ask you, are you a Prince Hall
Freemason?